Case Results

Results speak louder than words. The Syracuse New York personal injury attorneys at Michaels & Smolak have had numerous six and seven figure “results” for victims of negligence and medical and legal malpractice in the Central New York area and beyond. Here are some of our results. (Note that due to confidentiality agreements, we cannot disclose the specific circumstances or settlement amounts of all of our cases).

$7,750,000 - A mediated settlement for a young man paralyzed from a car crash.

$5,200,000 - Verdict against the State of NY for paraplegia as a result of a failure to properly supervise a person in custody (Settled during the Appeals process for $4.5 million).

$3,800,000 - Settlement on behalf of a construction worker who sustained severe and permanent lung damage from dust created during demolition and construction activities.

$3,200,000 - Jury verdict for young woman who suffered significant scarring from burns in an explosion.

$2,542,376 - Verdict ($3,814,390 with interest after Appeals) - An elderly Parkinson's patient paralyzed and brain damaged due to an equipment malfunction during brain surgery (ask for a copy of the decision and news articles).

$2,500,000 - A woman's doctors failed to properly diagnose cancer.

$2,225,000 - A construction worker injured as a result of a fall from a ladder that was improperly secured sustained a closed head injury including brain hemorrhage.

$2,225,000 - Roofer who fell from an unsecured ladder on a construction site sustaining serious orthopedic injuries including a comminuted depression calcaneus fracture.

$225,000 - A construction worker suffered a back injury due to a fall from a roof.

$225,000 - A businessman sustained financial losses due to legal malpractice in a real estate transaction.

$217,500 - A man who sustained a fracture to his left distal fibula with ankle joint involvement when a driver failed to yield the right of way during a left hand turn.

$201,785 - A woman who slipped on a wet floor in a drug store when an employee failed to place warning signs after mopping resulting in a torn rotator cuff and impingement of the shoulder requiring surgery.

$200,000 - Serious orthopedic injuries to an elderly man and his wife when they were struck by a car which failed to yield the right of way.

$200,000 - A man who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury including a subdural hematoma when his vehicle was rear-ended by a driver following too closely.

$200,000 - A family of an elderly woman who was killed as a passenger in a vehicle in which the driver lost control and veered off the roadway striking a telephone pole.

$200,000 - A woman struck in a parking lot by a vehicle making a left hand turn into a parking spot sustaining a femur fracture requiring surgery.

$197,000 - A couple who was hit head on by a vehicle that left its lane resulting in multiple fractures.

$195,000 - The death of an elderly woman who was killed while a passenger in a vehicle that was t-boned by an inexperienced driver.

$155,000 - Mediated settlement in a legal malpractice claim against attorneys that missed the statute of limitations in an injury case.

$150,000 - A passenger in a motor vehicle who was struck during whiteout conditions and resulted in a cervical disk herniation.

$150,000 - A student injured when she slipped on a poorly maintained icy walkway resulting in a bimalleolar fracture of the right ankle.

$150,000 - A dock worker injured while operating a forklift to unload a tractor trailer when the trailer’s landing gear collapsed.

$150,000 - A special needs student who sustained serious injuries including a fractured leg during a course of physical therapy.

$150,000 - A woman who sustained cervical injuries requiring surgery when a vehicle attempted a u-turn directly into her path.

$150,000 - An elderly woman who sustained a hip fracture when she was struck by a cart in a shopping center.

$150,000 - A man who sustained internal injuries requiring a bowel resection when an inattentive driver backed into his vehicle striking the driver’s side.

$150,000 - A woman struck from behind sustaining injuries to her cervical disk.

$125,000 - A fall on an ice covered parking lot resulting in a fracture of hip.

$120,000 - A man who slipped and fell as a result of a frozen patch in a parking lot of which the owner had notice and sustained a torn bicep tendon and torn rotator cuff.

$107,347 - Unnecessary surgery.

$100,000 - A woman was injured when a car slammed into a restaurant causing soft tissue injuries to her neck and concussive symptoms.

$100,000 - A man who suffered a herniated disk when his car was struck by another car merging into traffic.

$100,000 - An elderly man struck by a vehicle while crossing the street sustaining multiple fractures.

$100,000 - A passenger in a motor vehicle struck from behind by a delivery person who was distracted by using his cell phone at the time of the collision resulting in a herniated disk in her cervical spine.

$100,000 - A front seat passenger who was seriously injured in a vehicle that ran a stop sign and was t-boned by another vehicle sustaining multiple trauma.

$100,000 - A bicyclist struck while in the crosswalk by a vehicle resulting in a comminuted fracture of his tibia and fibula.

$100,000 - A motorcyclist who was struck by a car making a left hand turn requiring surgical intervention for internal derangement of his right knee including an ACL tear.

$100,000 - A woman who sustained multiple fractures as a passenger in a vehicle that left the road and struck a telephone pole.

$100,000 - A driver struck from behind while in traffic sustaining neck and back injuries requiring injections.

$100,000 (policy limit) - A passenger in a car that was stopped while rear-ended causing a herniated disk in the neck requiring surgery.

$100,000 - A motorcyclist who sustained an ankle fracture when a vehicle pulled into his path.

$100,000 - A motorcyclist who sustained orthopedic injuries when a driver backed out of a driveway into his path

$100,000 - A pedestrian struck in a crosswalk sustaining fractures including a left tibial plateau fracture and tear of her ACL ligament.

He is one of the top lawyers in central New York & has the accolades to show for this, but in my book he's the top lawyer in the country. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Bersani & to have had him on my team! Matthew

★★★★★

I admire the amount of background work he did which was instrumental in getting me a very good settlement. Also, having never been involved in a personal injury lawsuit, Michael was very patient explaining the legal issues. You're in good hands with Michael Bersani and the firm of Michaels & Smolak. Richard

★★★★★

Dave took over my wrongful death case after it was badly messed up by another lawyer. He was dogged in his pursuit of all the information needed to make a solid case, and he succeeded in bringing it to a very satisfactory settlement. He was honest and straightforward, kind and compassionate through meetings, depositions, court appearances. I highly recommend him. Christine

★★★★★

Dave has handled our legal matters for over 20 years. Always there when we needed him. We were so happy with his professionalism and results that we referred him to several friends. If we ever need this type of service again, Dave will be the first and only call we make. Jackie

We serve clients throughout New York State including those in the following localities: Cayuga County including Auburn, Moravia, and Weedsport; Onondaga County including Baldwinsville, Camillus, Cicero, Clay, East Syracuse, Fayetteville, Jamesville, Kirkville, Liverpool, Manlius, Marcellus, Skaneateles, and Syracuse; Ontario County including Canandaigua, Farmington, Geneva, and Victor; Seneca County including Seneca Falls and Waterloo; Broome County including Binghamton, Endicott, and Johnson City; and Monroe County including Rochester.View More